Go to Hall

And so it came to pass that the MAGOP – the self-proclaimed “Party of Free Speech!!!” (who are editing out all mention of any word that is related in some way to DEI in government documents and websites) – is telling its members of Congress not to hold Town Hall meetings with their constituents.  Because the members might say things that are critical and show how upset they are on camera.
 
Cool.  So, that’s how “Free Speech!!!” works.  I was always wondering.

My favorite part of all this has been seeing Speaker Mike Johnson – the self-proclaimed Moses of the House – explain that the Town Hall meetings that so offend his tender sensibilities which are a gift from God are not only filled with Democrats, but those Democrats there are all paid by whoever it is who pays Democrats to go to Town Hall meetings.
 
There are only two things missing from Mr. Johnson.  One is evidence to support his first claim, and the other is evidence to support his second claim.
 
There’s something else problematic, as well as incredibly stupid with his position, but we’ll get to all that in a moment.

By the way, to add perspective to the problematic utter stupidity of this all: when I finished writing this article yesterday evening -- I saved the document, got up from my desk, looked over at the TV to turn MSNBC off…and the chyron read, “Voters push GOP lawmakers to have Town Halls.”  I felt it was like my computer had been hacked.
 
Which leads us back to Mr. Johnson’s claims, starting with it is near-impossible that he has the slightest idea what party people belong to who go to the Town Halls.  No one is asked to identify themselves or their party.  On occasion, yes, we do see on camera people explain what party they’re in before they vent their anger -- and usually from the clips I’ve seen, it’s been people saying they’re Republican. So, y’know, oops on that.  
 
And you’d think that if someone was paying Democrats to show up, Mike Johnson would have the easiest time finding the receipts.  And giddily showing them.  But so far, zero.  Besides, if anyone was paying Democrats, furious unpaid MAGOPs would be demanding their own party to match them.  Moreover, from the visceral fury we are seeing expressed at these Town Halls, paying to get those people to a Town Hall would be the biggest waste of money.  Far more likely, you’d have to pay them not to show up.
 
So, yes, there is (of course) absolutely no evidence that only Democrats are showing up  at Town Halls, overwhelming any MAGOPS there -- in what, it must be remembered, are Red districts – and no evidence at all that even a nickel is being spent to get them there.  Just desperate yammering from Mike Johnson.

(I will add that there's a whimsical irony that someone whose job is "Speaker" is telling his party members not to speak...)
 
Which gets us to the bigger, more problematic points.

First, it’s so telling that Mike Johnson, leader of The People's House, thinks that even if only Democrats were showing up, their elected representative – who represent everyone in the district – shouldn’t talk to them.  It seems to be pure MAGOP philosophy that MAGOP politicians only should help members of their own party.  We see it with Trump, after all – where people who live in Blue states where a disaster hits aren’t deserving of aid.  So, it’s a view that has filtered down to the MAGOP Town Hall level. 
 
But, of course, if you’re an elected representative, you actually really do, by the Constitution you swear an oath to, represent everyone in your district.  And whoever shows up at your Town Hall, you sure better speak to them.  Because they actually really are your constituents. Whose lives are impacted by what you do.
 
Which gets us to the Mike Johnson Gambit.
 
Don’t Have a Town Hall.
 
And in the end, this is the stupidest MAGOP decision of all.  Overwhelming so.  Consider the many reasons.
 
If your constituents are angry, they’re going to be angry whether you have a Town Hall or not.
 
If you don’t have a Town Hall, someone who is angry is going to get even angrier.
 
If MAGOPs don’t have Town Halls, Democrats surely will.  And they will happily welcome their constituents from all parties.
 
And if MAGOPs show up at Town Halls held by their Democratic representatives, they might get answers they like and may consider voting for them next time.
 
And if Democrats hold Town Halls, but MAGOPs representatives don’t hold them, MAGOPs who live in neighboring towns might want an outlet to vent their fury and will drive to attend those nearby.  And (see above) may get answers they like and may consider voting for them next time.
 
Further, if MAGOPs don’t hold Town Halls in their districts, Democratic representative may decide to hold a Town Hall there instead.  Actually, there’s no “may” about it, since some have done so already.  By this point, you know the drill – MAGOPs attending may get answers they like and may consider voting for them next time.
 
But even above that, if MAGOPs don’t hold Town Halls and Democrats do, and even if only Democrats show up, the anger expressed will be the same, and it will all be caught on camera and televised. 
 
At least if MAGOPs hold Town Halls, they would have a chance to at least try to express their defense of Trump, Musk and MAGOP policy.  If they don’t hold Town Halls, though, they are ceding the microphones and TV cameras and platforms entirely to Democrats.
 
Fine by me.
 
It’s just that it’s really stupid.  Only every level, from Mike Johnson’s total lack of evidence for everything he’s flailing about down to the grass roots of giving people who supported you a chance to at least vent.
 
Especially if you’re the self-proclaimed “Party of Free Speech!!!”  (sic)

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